Feeding your dog a festive treat might seem like a kind thing to do during season for giving - but doing so actually puts your loved one's health at risk.

At actor Will Hall's Kaukapakapa home he and his wife Sarah have both been working hard to prepare for the Christmas festivities.

The best spots for enjoying a Christmas hamper outdoors will be in the Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Central Otago tomorrow.

If you haven't done your Christmas shopping yet, there's still time - but prepare for the madness.

It's about this time every year, before I set out, that I have to silence the little voice in my head that says, "This is too big

Every week I entreat you to write and you have and you do. Sometimes you've been cross, occasionally cruel, mostly, though, you've been thoughtful and you've been kind.

The winners of the biggest Lotto prize ever in New Zealand are looking forward to a low-key Christmas.

A philosopher writing in the Herald this week, Massey Professor Bill Fish, pointed out that Santa Clause is real.

COMMENT: The days of your sweating over Christmas dinner preparation could soon be a thing of the past

Church leaders remind us that the message of Christmas goes beyond just words.

Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye speaks about the positives following a "gruelling few months" since her breast cancer diagnosis.

Syrian refugee Mohamad Eid Morad and his family are grateful to be celebrating a safe first Christmas together in New Zealand.

An elderly woman has died after being hit by a car in Takapuna, on Auckland's North Shore. She is believed to be the first person killed in holiday period.

Like many Kiwi kids, 6-year-old Arian Truter loves Christmas. But this December 25 will be extra special because it's a miracle he's here to celebrate it.

"The volunteers are just amazing people, but the ones that are really at the top are the people we visit," says an Age Concern volunteer.

Dog fanatic had to give up her job and sell her designer handbags and jewellery in order to care for her 30 pugs.

The myth surrounding Santa Claus is doing children more harm than good according to an expert.

Creamy pav and delayed health care could help explain increased heart death rate

A little girl has been reunited with her favourite teddy after she accidentally left him behind in Auckland Airport when her family moved to Germany.

Do you know someone who seems to have everything? Here are some perfect last minute ideas for an outside-the-box Christmas gift.

Wet weather today will clear throughout the country making way for a mainly fine Christmas weekend.

Every day social workers and counsellors at Genesis Youth Trust in South Auckland are working with troubled youth to try to put them on the right path.

WATCH: Unitec preschool kids bring donations and some much-needed cheer to the Auckland City Mission.

Jo-Anne Ireland, from Alexandra, is not keen on the small garden-dwellers - but every year she gets a present from 'Santa'.

While many around the country enjoy a day off on Christmas Day; many others are toiling to ensure those less fortunate csan enjoy the annual festivities.

Father and daughter bears Sean and Sasa tucked into their usual meal at Wellington Zoo today, but with a Christmas twist. The sun

Traffic has already slowed to a crawl in parts of the country as holidaymakers head out of town for Christmas.

A man has died from a heart attack while in Christmas traffic near Wellington.

What would you do if you found $10,000 in a bag on the side of the road?

Photos of Hipster Santa are starting to pop up across the globe - here's a selection of the finest.